40. The Shys, You'll Never Understand This Band the Way That I Do (2008) From the southern edge of the county –- San Clemente, to be specific –- emerged our very own Hives, rockin' the garages of suburbia with Stones-on-steroids swagger. At least that's how these guys came off on their 2006 debut, Astoria. Two years later, they cut out the shtick and got serious about developing their sound without fully slicing out its '70s underbelly. The result is a varied beauty that spans from Mott the Hoople holler to David Lowery at a booze-soaked best to the sort of winsome indie-pop and baroque, piano-driven nuggets that could make Cold War Kids and Delta Spirit envious. Like Wilco growing and experimenting from A.M. to Being There, they're only beginning to figure out what really works.

39. Dusty Rhodes and the River Band, First You Live (2007)

Kinsler sent in a clever comparison about this Fullerton bunch -– if Yes and the Band teamed up and enlisted Gram Parsons –- and suggested last May's Palace and Stage make the list. It's a winner, too, and certainly more cohesive, but I get a kick out of its predecessor's jumbled, off-kilter looseness, ranging from foot-stompin' Americana to Elton John circa '73, Jason Falkner power-pop to Dead Milkmen deadpan. Another local cult favorite in the making, despite the backing of SideOneDummy Records (home of Flogging Molly and Gogol Bordello) ... or are the seeds of something more just beginning to take root after three albums? Still hard to say.